Memory 3 - Synaptic Plasticity Flashcards
What is the reasoning behind the idea that something other than arc expression mediates the consolidation of LTM?
Elevated levels of synthesised proteins (arc) and phosphorylated proteins that result from learning disappear the next day, and return to their normal/baseline levels.
What was Donald Hebb’s famous quote about synaptic plasticity?
Neurons that fire together, wire together, such that they are more likely to fire together again in the future.
What is synaptic plasticity?
Alteration(s) in the strength of a synapse, resulting in a permanent change in the likelihood of the post-synaptic neuron being activated by the firing of a pre-synaptic neuron.
What is the average/normal chance that a post-synaptic neuron will fire in response to the activation of a pre-synaptic neuron?
25%
What did Bliss and Lomo’s (1973) study show?
It demonstrated the increased amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic potentials as it’s stimulation by pre-synaptic firing continued.
What does LTP stand for and what is it?
Long term potentiation - it is a form of synaptic plasticity that results in an increase in the response of the post-synaptic neuron.
What is non-associative LTP?
LTP that is induced by activity in a single input pathway. Increases in the output of a post-synaptic neuron due to the increase in firing of one pre-synaptic neuron.
What is associative LTP?
LTP that depends on the co-activation of two inputs and strengthens both pathways. Increases in the output of the post-synaptic neuron due to the increase in firing of more than one pre-synaptic neuron. One of the pre-synaptic neurons has to be firing intensely for both synapses to be potentiated/increased in strength.
What did Johansen et al., (2010) find about associative conditioning in rats?
That they could artificially induce a fear memory of a foot-shock in rats who had never experienced one. They did this by activating specific neurons at the same time as presenting a stimulus, such as a tone.
What does LTD stand for and what is it?
Long term depression - it is the decrease in the output of a post-synaptic neuron due to low frequency stimulation of the pre-synaptic neuron.
Does learning in the cerebellum rely most on LTP or LTD?
LTD
Is motor learning linked with LTP or LTD, according to Ito (2000)?
LTD
What is eye-blink conditioning?
Testing of PPS to see whether/how long it takes them to blink when a tone sounds, after previous instances of the tone lead to a puff of air into the eye.
What is VOR?
Vestibulo-ocular reflex, which maintains the gaze of our eyes on a particular stimulus/fixed point as our head moves.
Which area of the brain is motor learning and memory implicated in?
Cerebellum
